Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Things of the Past and the Present

Author's Note- I'm not going to lie, I struggled with this book analysis. Over the coarse of three weeks, I have written three different versions. Thankfully, I had peers and teachers to help me focus on a good topic and work towards some of my writing goals. For this piece I mainly focused on my vocabulary and conclusion. After focuses on those things I began analyze things such as; stereo-typing, gender discrimination, and racism. Hopefully, this piece allows you to remember the amazing things America has and the people who have worked to maintain this outstanding country.

The United States is a wonderful place. We have freedom to be whatever we want no matter what gender or racial backround. Although, America has not always been this lucky. Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help, has captured the time before we were so privileged in America. This time was 1962, at time of racial and gender unfairness. Even though this novel reveals the truth of the past, it shines a light on the present, provoking the reader to think of the changes that have been made and who was brave enough to stop the horrors we are dealing with. Things such as; most stereo-types, most racism and most of gender discrimination.

In The Help, Skeeter, one of the three fictional women, was working towards getting a job in the local newspaper. Since she was a young woman, they at first rejected her. After some convincing, they gave her the housekeeping column. Women’s rights activists such as Susan B. Anthony and many before her have been working to prevent gender discrimination since 1848. Some other jobs women have struggled to get hired for, back then and still today, include; jobs in government, and many other high rated jobs. Yet, in 1962 up to today, many women still struggle to attain meaningful jobs which involve an authority role. Even so, women have struggled, and are currently struggling, many other issues have occurred in the United States.


Another issue, in The Help, is the stereo-typing of other races. Miss Hilly, a character in this book, is stereo-typing all African Americans. In 1962, many white employers forced their help to use separate bathrooms, even though these working women have cleaned their employer’s house for years. This was done because; people stereo-typed African Americans as “dirty” and “diseased”.  People like Martian Luther King Jr., have worked to prevent those racial actions. Stereo-typical actions and racial actions go hand and hand.


Racism is a terrible thing; a belief that one race is superior to another. It occurred in this book, and is occurring now, unfortunately. A lot of people in the United States still think things like, anyone from a Hispanic culture is involved with drugs or All African Americans are “ghetto”. None of these statements are true. Stereo-typing people and racism go hand and hand, and also have something to do with gender discrimination. Therefore, America needs to remember their role models.


In modern America, we salute all our heroes. Thanking them for standing up for others, and stopping racism, gender discrimination, and stereo-typing. This being so, there are still some of these actions occurring. To stop these actions it takes bravery from everyone. People like, Martin Luther King, Susan B. Anthony, and Kathryn Stockett, for allowing her novel to reach out to others, and not being afraid to write about difficult subjects.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

A Rough Vouge

Author's Note: For my third piece, I chose to write a poem. Even though I am not a poet, this piece should symbolize the hard choices and the temptations that we face in life. I really tried to have a conclusion, although it was difficult referring to a thesis. Hopefully, you see a good conclusion, that suits the poem.


Sailing through rocky waters
So numb they almost sting
Which way to go
Is there land ahead
I am lost
Hoping to find my way
In this huge sea
With good fish and bad fish
Which one will I be
There are rocky waters up ahead
But soon follows land
Will I be a shell that's cracked
Or a dolphin swimming freely
Sailing through these water
Learning things and finding my way
Through an array of troubles
I will fight the sting and remain uncracked.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Good Bye


Author's Note- When I found this picture, thoughts popped in to my head immediately. I have really struggled with this  "creative piece", that I am required to write. I am really proud myself for persevering through this difficult writing process. Hopefully in this piece I have a really good paragraph transitions and an advanced conclusion.




It was the year after my mother died in a car accident and the year after my father left me. Now I am living with her grandma; both of us mourning, and praying somehow we could change the previous year's events.


Today is the anniversary of my mother's death, I walked down to the beach; clutching her old teddy bear. It is such a ratty old bear, but it still remains special to me because it had belonged to my mom. It's was the only piece she had of her, and yet on that gray, misty day I did the unexpected.


I always had Teddy with me, when I got home her grandma was puzzled.


"Hey Tessie, where's Teddy?" she asked.


"Somewhere in the world. We'll be together though, eventually" I answered.


"What do you mean?"


"When I die, I will see Teddy again. We'll embrace each other, and never let go." Tessa responded half crying.

All My Life

Author's Note- FYI, this is a writing circle piece and I am sorry it's late. Anyways, the topic that I had to write about is life. Having chosen this, with the help of my writing circle, the possibilities of ways to go were endless. I also worked on my word choice and transitions between paragraphs. Even though that's usually what I work on, I hope you see improvement in each piece. I also hope you take something away from this piece.


Life; the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter. This being so I believe that life is more than just a distinguisher, it's about why we are here and what we can offer to the world.


A lot of  people take life for granted, and offer nothing to the world; much else their community. It saddens me when I see someone, who is well-off, be selfish. I mean, my family and I aren't rich yet we aren't poor. Although, we donate to the church generously and help out neighbors. It doesn't matter how big your actions are, it matters why and how you preform them. But why are we here?


I'm know that there are many different theories to the question; why are we here? Although, I don't know the answer. And no one will until they join their Creator. Even so, what really matters is how you act.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Message

Author's Note: This is a fictional story I wrote, in my writing circle. With the topic we had selected, I could have gone many different directions with my story. I chose to go with creepy yet the voice, that I wanted to portrayed to be calm. Please let me know if my vocabulary and transitions between paragraphs are decent.


As Cammie opened the door, she had a feeling something was awaiting her. Although she had put no consideration that it may not be a person, but maybe a message. A message, would change her life.


After sitting down at the kitchenette and eating peanut butter crackers, like she did everyday after school, Cammie remembered that it was her responsibility to check the land line for messages. She often forgot to do so, since her family just canceled the Merry Maids. This being so, some strange twist of fate, allowed her to remember.


The phone speaker, spoke like it did always. Please enter your password. Cammie of coarse had trouble remembering it. Her thoughts were something along the lines of, 5956? No, Ummmm 8876. Ugh! Oh, I remember.....1234.



Quickly  after the machine accepted her password, Cammie dug around in the kitchen "junk drawer", she needed a pencil and paper; so that she would remember everything. The first message was from her Grandma Gracie; GG, as Cammie called her, wanted to know if the issue was solved. Jotting this down quickly the second message began to play. It happened to be her dad; he called to say he wanted to get back together with her mom. None of these messages were considered important, in Cammie's eyes, but her mother might think otherwise. My mother can't even manage to give good advice, maybe I should just delete the messages and throw.... Cammie's thoughts were interrupted by a third message.



Cammie thought that it would be her mom, because she's late from work today. But it wasn't her mom's voice, it was the voice of a stranger. Listening closely, she began to daze; as if the demanding voice was over powering her.



Listen closely. I have your mom. She's in my basement, that is flooding. But she isn't alone. I also have managed to steal every other kid, from their homes. Your next. Either come to me, or I will come to you. You have 30 minutes.


Her heart began to pound louder and louder each second she stood still. Cammie's mind was spinning; She began to wonder, What should I do? When was this message left, do I have enough time? Was he on his way now?


Answering her questions, the kitchen window burst open. It revealed a strong man; glasses, dressed in all black, and had freakishly large hands. Without even thinking, Cammie threw the phone at his head, and then a coffee pot. She missed both shots. And faster than you can say, well anything, the mysterious man snatched her. Taking her away, wearing a blindfold. Cammie had no idea what was awaiting her.


For the first time in her life, she actually wanted her mother's advice; it was too late to change her life because she no longer had one.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Race for Knowledge?


Author's Note: In  this small commentary, I expressed my feelings towards NASA being shut-down. Even though this piece is somewhat serious, I hope that the beginnings of my sentences, flow and vary.  

Space. It's one of the most fascinating things to think about. Even though the United States has made many discoveries, there is still so much more to discover. When the United States, shut down NASA, lots of people didn't care. But I did. Without the Space Program, the American citizens who are involved in sciences, of all kinds, will fall behind. Even though, the "Race to Space" is over, the United States has officially dropped out of the Race for Knowledge.

Friday, December 2, 2011

A Cheesy Propsal


Author's Note- I wrote this poem to show a common theme in movies. To people have completely different news....Anyways, I tried to use some figurative language, hopefully it is recognizable.

Opening the envelope filled with words of love
Is just like a song from above
My heart starts to sing
And before you know it your down on one knee
Could this be?
Do you really want to spend your whole life with me?
Although this proposal is kind of cheesy
I think I going to start to feel queasy
Because I was just going to say
I think we should break up
I’m tired of the constant make-ups
From the tons of rights we have
Even so at least you know-
You’ll always be in my heart